E-learning/version 3

E-Learning or Electronic learning is the term used to describe all learning that has an electronic dimension to it.

The worldwide e-learning industry is estimated to be worth over 38 billion euros according to conservative estimates, although in the European Union only AbOUT 20% of e-learning products are produced within the common market. Developments in Internet and multimedia technologies are the basic enabler of e-learning, with content, technologies and services being identified as the three key sectors of the e-learning industry (Nagy, 2005), although it can be seen that there are two additional sectors, those being the consulting and support sectors.

Organisations such as SkillSoft, Epic, LearningSteps.com, BlueU and REDTRAY are leading innovators in the design and development of e-learning in the commercial world. Of these, SkillSoft are by far the largest and most experienced company in the global e-learning market, whilst Epic are the largest bespoke e-learning content providers.

History

The first general-purpose e-learning system was the PLATO System developed at The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The Plato system evolved with the involvement of Control Data who created the first authoring software used to create learning content. The authoring software was called Plato. The Science Research Council then wrote the first CAI system of Math for K-6. Wicat Systems then created WISE as their authoring tool using Pascal and developed English and Math curriculum for K-6. The very first complete CAI classroom for K-6 students was set up at the Waterford Elementary School in Utah using the Wicat system. The first public CAI classroom with its own layout and design was implemented with the Wicat System by Baal Systems (later known as Virtual Systems) in Singapore as a joint operation between Wicat and Baal. It is from this design that the entire computer learning centres globally evolved which were forerunners of e-learning.

Growth of e-learning

Among the early institutions of on-line learning in the mid-1980s were the Western Behavioural Sciences Institute, the New York Institute of Technology, the Electronic Information Exchange System - EIES - of the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Connected Education. More recently the organization Independent Student Media has developed a working curriculum that instructs students through an Interactive On-line Textbook. The first organisation to introduce the term 'e-learning' to the corporate marketplace was CBT Systems (now SkillSoft) in the mid-1990s.

By 2003, more than 1.9 million students were participating in on-line learning or online education at institutions of higher education in the United States, according to a report from an authoritative source of information about on-line higher education. The explosive rate of growth -- now about 25 percent a year -- has made hard numbers a moving target. But according to Sloan, virtually all public higher education institutions, as well as a vast majority of private, for-profit institutions, now offer online classes. By CONTRAST, only about half of private, non-profit schools offer them. The Sloan report, based on a poll of academic leaders, says that students GeneRally appear to be at least as satisfied with their online classes as they are with traditional ones. Private Institutions may become more involved with on-line presentations as the cost of instituting such a system decreases. Properly trained staff must also be hired to work with students online. These staff members must be able to not only understand the content area, but also be highly trained in the use of the computer and Internet.

The concept of a [Digital native] has also become popular, and there are certainly likely to be generational influences on the future of online e-learning. As more and more adult learners enter into this field the gap will begin to close.

In addition, online e-learning takes advantage of the versatility provided by asynchronous capabilities of internet delivered education.

Technology

Many technologies can, and are, used in E-learning:

• Palm pilots
• MP3 Players
• the use of web-based teaching materials
• hypermedia in general
• multimedia CD-ROMs
• web sites
• discussion boards
• collaborative software
• e-mail
• blogs
• wiki
• text chat
• computer aided assessment
• educational animation
• simulations
• games
• learning management software
• electronic voting systems

Most eLearning situations use combination of the above techniques.

In higher education especially, the increasing tendency is to create a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) (which is sometimes combined with a Managed Information System (MIS) to create a Managed Learning Environment) in which all aspects of a course are handled through a consistent user interface standard throughout the institution. A growing number of physical universities, as well as newer online-only colleges, have begun to offer a select set of academic degree and certificate programs via the Internet at a wide range of levels and in a wide range of disciplines. While some programs require students to attend some campus classes or orientations, many are delivered completely online. In addition, several universities offer online student support services, such as online advising and registration, e-counselling, online textbook purchase, student governments and student newspapers.

Services

E-learning services have evolved since computers were first used in education. There is a trend to move toward blended learning services, where computer-based activities are integrated with practical or classroom-based situations.

Computer Based Learning

Computer Based Learning, sometimes abbreviated CBL, refers to the use of computers as a key component of the educational environment. While this can refer to the use of computers in a classroom, the term more broadly refers to a structured environment in which computers are used for teaching purposes. The concept is generally seen as being distinct from the use of computers in ways where learning is at least a peripheral element of the experience (e.g. computer games and web browsing).

Computer Based Training

Computer-based training (CBT) services are where a student learns by executing special training programs on a computer relating to their occupation. CBT is especially effective for training people to use computer applications because the CBT program can be integrated with the applications so that students can practice using the application as they learn. Historically, CBTs growth has been hampered by the enormous resources required: human resources to create a CBT program, and hardware resources needed to run it. However, the increase in PC computing power, and especially the growing prevalence of computers equipped with CD-ROMs, is making CBT a more viable option for corporations and individuals alike. Many PC applications now come with some modest form of CBT, often called a tutorial. Web-based training (WBT) is a type of training that is similar to CBT; however, it is delivered over the Internet using a web browser. Web-based training frequently includes interactive methods, such as bulletin boards, chat rooms, instant messaging, videoconferencing, and discussion threads. WBT is usually a self-paced learning medium, however some systems allow for online testing and evaluation at specific times.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The most notable advantages of most types of e-learning are flexibility, convenience and the ability to work at your own pace. E-classes are asynchronous which allows learners to participate and complete coursework in accordance with their daily commitments. This makes an e-learning education a viable option for those that have other commitments such as family or work.

Other advantages of some types of e-learning include the ability to communicate with fellow classmates from around the country, a greater adaptability to learner's needs, more variety in learning experience with the use of multimedia and the non-verbal presentation of teaching material. Video instruction provides visual and audio learning that can be reviewed as often as needed. For organizations with distributed and constantly changing learners (e.g. restaurant staff), e-learning has huge benefits when compared with organizing classroom training.

Disadvantages of some types e-learning include the lack of face-to-face interaction with a teacher. Critics of e-learning argue that the process is no longer "educational" in the highest philosophical sense (for example, as defined by RS Peters, a philosopher of education). Supporters of E-learning claim that this criticism is largely unfounded, as human interactions can readily be encouraged through audio or video-based web-conferencing programs, threaded discussion boards,of fact, many in K12 would support e-learning if it was not associated with the more extreme versions that attempt to cut out the directed teacher-student relationship.

References

• Nagy, A. (2005). The Impact of E-Learning, in: Bruck, P.A.; Buckkolz, A.; Karssen, Z.; Zerfass, A. (Eds). E-Content: Technologies and Perspectives for the European Market. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, pp.79-96

See also

• Videobooks
• Distance learning